According to Law: The Complete Black Mask Cases of Ed Jenkins, Volume 1

Ed Jenkins is not a detective-he is a wanted man who lives by his own code. In the pages of Black Mask, Erle Stanley Gardner introduced readers to "the Phantom Crook," an outlaw who moves through the shadows of Chinatown alleys, hotel corridors, and backroom rackets, playing the law and the underworld against each other just to stay alive. According to Law: The Complete Black Mask Cases of Ed Jenkins, Volume 1 gathers the earliest adventures of this elusive lone wolf, showcasing Gardner's flair for relentless pace, twist-packed plots, and tight, punchy dialogue. Here, Jenkins is judge and jury for anyone who tries to frame him, double-cross him, or use him as a patsy. Featuring an all-new introduction by noted scholar John Wooley, this volume restores to print a cornerstone series from one of crime fiction's most prolific and imaginative storytellers.